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Smartphone Paradoxes in Working Mothers’ Pursuit of Work-Life Balance

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Locally Relevant ICT Research (IDIA 2018)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 933))

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Abstract

Technology has led to the intertwining of work and life, with persistent debates as to whether they facilitate better Work-Life Balance (WLB) practices or not. It is argued that while smartphones may provide capabilities that foster WLB, they may also contribute to negative outcomes that challenge the very pursuit and intention of WLB. The research adopts an interpretive, qualitative approach, using the paradoxes of technology to understand what conflicts the use of smartphones present to working mothers in their pursuit of WLB. A total of 15 participants were selected, through convenience sampling, to study a variety of experiences and views regarding smartphones, as experienced by working mothers. The sample differed in terms of age, marital status, type of employment, industry and income level. We used semi-structured interviews to collect data. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The results indicate that though smartphones provide capabilities that potentially support WLB, their very use results in paradoxical experiences for mothers that challenge their very quest of WLB.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Systems, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Karen Sowon, Olga Sikhwari, Mphatso Nyemba-Mudenda & Wallace Chigona

Authors
  1. Karen Sowon
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  2. Olga Sikhwari
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  3. Mphatso Nyemba-Mudenda
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  4. Wallace Chigona
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karen Sowon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Kirstin Krauss

  2. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Marita Turpin

  3. University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Filistea Naude

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Sowon, K., Sikhwari, O., Nyemba-Mudenda, M., Chigona, W. (2019). Smartphone Paradoxes in Working Mothers’ Pursuit of Work-Life Balance. In: Krauss, K., Turpin, M., Naude, F. (eds) Locally Relevant ICT Research. IDIA 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 933. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11235-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11235-6_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-11234-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-11235-6

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